10 Things to Do in Amsterdam at Christmas

Christmas is the most atmospheric period of the winter in Amsterdam, a celebration that is very popular in Holland and attracts thousands of tourists every year.

As a result, there are many events that you can enjoy that are focused on gastronomy, festivities and skiing. Examples include Winter Paradise, the Christmas markets and Ice Amsterdam. You also have the option of enjoying something more natural by going to Amsterdam's largest park, Vondelpark.

Vondelpark is a real beauty. With 45 hectares of hills, lakes and stunning viewpoints, it is the largest park in the city. Luckily for you, at this time of the year, it becomes a place reserved for people who want to experience Christmas like in the old days, especially in the eastern part of the park. This area of the park will be filled with food stalls, illuminated trees, live Christmas music and controlled bonfires to add that traditional touch to the festivities.

If the snow accompanies you on your Christmas stay in Amsterdam you will see how the landscape of this park becomes a wonderland thanks to the harmony between the lights and the white snow.

Because Vondelpark is open all year round 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, you can also bring seats and food with you from your own home. You can also bring seats and food from home.

Almost all of Amsterdam's shops, museums and restaurants will be closed during the Christmas season (except in the most touristy areas). However, some of Amsterdam' s best museums are open for visitors during this time as well, so you can combine your visit with other Christmas activities. Here is a list of the main ones:

• Tickets to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (and cruise), which houses the largest collection of works by the artist and other contemporary painters such as Gauguin and Monet.
• Tickets for the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, considered the largest museum of modern and contemporary art and design in the Netherlands.
• Tickets to The Upside Down Museum in Amsterdam, Europe's largest museum dedicated to Instagram.
• Tickets to the Ripley's Museum Amsterdam, which has the world's most outstanding collection of natural, scientific, artistic and human oddities.
• Tickets to the Moco Amsterdam, the Modern Contemporary Museum in the capital of the Netherlands.
• Tickets to the NEMO Science Museum Amsterdam, which includes numerous interactive experiments for children and adults alike.
• Tickets to the Amsterdam Diamond Museum, which has one of the most important jewellery collections in Europe.
• Tickets to the Amsterdam Jewish Museum, where you can learn about the history of the Jewish community in the Netherlands.

Dam Square, Amsterdam's historical and cultural centre, adorns a 65-foot tree at Christmas with thousands of LED string lights. With the Royal Palace and the 19th century Nieuwe Kerk as backdrops, the views are simply spectacular.

During the tree lighting ceremony, the square is filled with carolers, musical performances, lots of food and hot drinks to celebrate the start of the Christmas festivities. Besides, it is not only the most important tree in Amsterdam, but in the whole of the Netherlands.

If you miss the ceremony on 25 December, don't worry, you can still enjoy the lights if you visit Amsterdam in January, even if you have to wait until 6 January. You can also take advantage of one of the city's sightseeing buses to tour the city centre while discovering the Dutch Christmas.

Many restaurants and cafés in Amsterdam are open at this time of year and often offer special Christmas menus, usually at a fixed price. It's a good idea to make reservations, as some cater for a certain number of customers per day.

In any case, the more tourist-oriented areas such as Damrak, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein will always have something to offer, even if it comes at a more inflated price. Many of these restaurants are usually signposted, so a walking tour the day before will be enough to make good choices.

They usually offer a wide variety of meats including duck, turkey, rabbit and pheasant. There are also different types of salads on offer, especially with a seafood twist. You can also try a variety of Christmas sweets:

• Kerstkransjes: a very popular type of biscuit.
• Kerststol: fruity Christmas bread.
• Kerstkrans: a wreath-shaped cake decorated with candied fruit and filled with sweet almond paste.
• Ene hagel biscuits: a fragrant, flaky Christmas biscuit.
• Speculaas: spiced biscuits.
• Marzipan: a very typical sweet.
• Duivekater: a festive sweet bread.

Christmas markets are a staple of the festive season in Northern Europe, and the Netherlands is no exception. If you visit Amsterdam in December you will see Christmas markets begin to dot the streets of Amsterdam.

Sunday Market is one of the most popular, located in the renovated historic gas building, Westergas. At Christmas, this monthly event becomes the'Funky Xmas Market', where you can buy all sorts of quirky and fun gifts, many of which are designed and made by local craftsmen and artists.

The biggest market, however, is the De Amsterdamsche Kerstmarkt, or Amsterdam Christmas Market. Although it doesn't provide the same artistic and eccentric atmosphere as the Funky Xmas Market, the Amsterdam Christmas Market is larger and guests can ice skate, eat from food trucks and enjoy live music while shopping at the numerous stalls.

Haarlem Market

In case these markets are not enough for you, then you should stop in Haarlem, a town about 30 minutes away from Amsterdam (I recommend this post about excursions from Amsterdam). Here, at the beginning of December, one of the biggest holiday markets is held not only in the Netherlands, but also including neighbouring Belgium and Luxembourg.

Lose yourself in the maze of over 300 stalls that invade the city centre, each selling some kind of traditional Dutch trinket. Carols parade through the streets to spread Christmas cheer and Dutch pea soup is available to warm you from the inside.

The huge RAI Amsterdam centre transforms at the end of each year into a winter wonderland known as Winter Paradise, packed with fun Christmas activities for the whole family. Winter Paradise is open daily from mid-December to early January.

Here you can enjoy carnival rides, swings and Ferris wheels almost 40 metres high for spectacular views of the city, one of the most original things to do in Amsterdam at Christmas. You can also rent ice skates to glide around the huge ice rink. After a good skiing session you can head straight to the bar serving cold-weather favourites such as brandies and mulled wine.

As if that wasn't enough, you'll also find nightclubs and music venues.

The Concertgebouw is one of Amsterdam's most architecturally impressive buildings, delighting residents and visitors with renowned musical performances since 1888. For more information on concerts, prices and opening times visit the event website.

Every Christmas, the concert hall hosts a variety of Christmas-themed performances, such as the annual 'Philharmonic Orchestra Festive Concert' with Christmas music.

One of the concerts held in this building is "The Nutcracker" and is especially adapted for families and recommended for everyone over the age of 6. Although the narration of this show is only in Dutch, you can still sit back and enjoy the music of this traditional Christmas piece. Firstly because music is not about understanding, but about feeling. And secondly because all the musicals are shown in one of the city's most historic buildings.

When the circus is in the city of Amsterdam, it is an event not to be missed. The Wereld Kerstcircus, or World Christmas Circus, takes place in mid-December at the Royal Carré Theatre. This event includes some of the world's most impressive acts for an unforgettable spectacle.

You'll be mesmerised by the breathtaking performances including acrobatics, live music and stallion taming. The Wereld Kerstcircus is not just a big circus that is projected every Christmas day, but rather a dynamic and interactive art show that unfolds before your eyes. Enjoy the magic! For more information about the event such as prices and opening times visit the Wereld Kerstcircus website.

ICE Amsterdam is a unique programme during the month of December organised in the open-air area of the Museumplein. Not only can you enjoy a night of ice skating under the artificial Christmas lights and surrounded by luminous trees, but you can also go to the various food stalls that will surround the rink outside where you can enjoy some Christmas delicacies. The event starts at the beginning of December and ends on 6 January.

In addition, there are always unexpected shows such as the appearance of the Three Wise Men, Christmas-related musicals and entertainment activities. If you are interested, don't hesitate to book a ticket and check schedules and prices on the ICE Amsterdam website.

As a tip, and given that the event is organised in the Museumplein, the area that houses some of Amsterdam's best museums, it wouldn't hurt to combine this event with a visit to the Van Gogh Museum or the Rijksmuseum.

The Amsterdam Botanical Garden, also known as the Hortus Botanicus, has for several years now introduced a new concept: Hortus at Christmas. On special evenings in late December and early January (17-22), you can admire the beautifully illuminated plants. In addition, glasses of glühwein, a kind of spiced mulled wine very common at Christmas time, are served.

The night ticket price for the Hortus by Light evenings is only €5.50, so don't miss out! The impressive light shows are also combined with instrumental music. The whole space is air-conditioned, so it's also a great way to temporarily escape the cold outside.

It is difficult to prepare for Amsterdam's Christmas weather, as temperatures can vary drastically from day to day and even from hour to hour. Winter temperatures are generally cold, often dropping below freezing at night, but warming slightly during the day.

It's generally not the kind of weather to be outdoors for too long, so dress warmly. Expect grey skies and few hours of daylight.

Precipitation, either snow or rain, depending on the temperature, is common during winter, but rarely heavy. You are likely to encounter cloudy skies and spells of rain, but not enough to put a damper on your trip! When visiting Amsterdam in winter, pack your suitcase well. Bring a mackintosh, travel umbrella, boots, gloves and scarves.

Winter (outside of the Christmas and New Year period which sees another increase in tourism) is the ideal time to plan your itinerary to Amsterdam, as from Christmas on wards the tourist numbers start to increase considerably, with peaks on the important days of Christmas.

Don't leave everything to the last minute even if you plan to visit Amsterdam for just one day or Amsterdam for two days, as prices for accommodation and flights are a function of supply and demand, rather than the length of your stay.